05. AN IDEA

A few hours later, Kyle finally called Aiden with some news.

"Look, I know you're gonna hate this but unless you want the paparazzi to be all over your ass, I suggest you stay inside for the next few days until the heat from Little Town's story dies down," Kyle said. "I'm sorry that I couldn't stop them from publishing the story. Now, on to the good news, I sent out a statement not claiming or denying the photo, so if anyone asks you about it, don't say shit. Just keep your big mouth shut and play stupid, okay?"

"Yeah, yeah. I hear you," Aiden mumbled. "I'll keep quiet."

"Don't forget what I said, okay? Keep your ass inside today. I mean it, Aiden. Do not go out and do something stupid that'll bring even more unwanted attention to yourself. I'm not trying to—"

"I'm sorry, what? I think the connection is breaking up... Hello? Kyle? Can you still hear me? Hello?" Knowing nothing was wrong with the connection, Aiden laughed before hanging up the phone. "Sorry, brother. I love you but you can be really fucking annoying sometimes."

Stretched out on his bed after having woken up from a much-needed nap, Aiden turned over to finally begin going through the stack of mail that Julian had brought in when he first arrived.

"Something's just not right with that guy," Aiden mumbled to himself. "Nobody is that damn polite. Literally no one."

Aiden was secretly peeved at not being able to figure Julian out.

He could feel it in his gut that there was something more to the brown-eyed muscle man, something more than the amiable facade that he'd been portraying ever since he got here. Aiden was anxious to know what it was. He'd have to remember to call Kyle back later to get him to do a thorough background report, for his eyes only, on his new bodyguard.

"No, no, NO! This crazy bitch is at it again?" Aiden exclaimed after he tore open a blank envelope to reveal yet another letter from his anonymous blackmailer.

. . .

The second letter read:

Dear Mr. Grayson,

How'd you like the story that I put out about you?

I want you to know that I timed all this in hopes that you got this letter the day that the news broke. And just in case you're wondering – yes, I do have a shitload of other dirt that I can easily leak about you. Hopefully, now you see that it'd be in your best interest to do what I say, when I say it.

Damn, who knew that threatening you would give me such a fucking rush?

I bet it's killing you not knowing who I am. Even if I were to tell you my identity, you'd be lost with it because you've been with so many women after me that trying to figure out who, when, and where you met me would be nearly impossible for you.

It honestly makes me sick that I fell in love with you while we were together. I was such a fool back then. Thank God we eventually went our separate ways. I was sure that I would get over you in time, but then I found out that I was pregnant and that basically changed everything.

And, just so you know, I never wanted to have kids. I almost got rid of the bastard growing inside me because it was a part of you, and I didn't want it being a part of me. I know I must sound awful but that's just how badly I despise you.

But then, one day, I started thinking about how I could use this baby in my favor, and voila! Look at where we are today.

I know you've probably been questioning if all this is legit because I could very well be lying about everything. Yes, that's right. I could be doing all this just for the money and to spite you for how badly you treated me when we were together, or... you know, I could actually be fucking pregnant with your child. You'll never know the truth and that's the fun in all this, for me at least.

I'll have more details to come about how you'll be getting me my money.

-          Until next time.

. . .

"I'm going to kill her!"

Aiden crumbled the letter and tossed it across the room after he finished reading it.

The anonymous woman didn't know it, but she had in fact succeeded in getting under Aiden's skin. He hadn't been this on edge in a long, long time. Not since his first day of being named CEO of Grayson Enterprise.

"She's dead when I get my hands on her. Fucking dead!"

Julian had just gotten back from retrieving the rest of his belongings at his condo when he heard a loud commotion going on upstairs.

He could hear things being thrown around. Aiden was screaming and shouting profanities. It was a clear sign that either he or someone else was in major trouble. Thinking and assuming the worst, Julian dropped the suitcases he'd been carrying, pulled his gun out from the holster on his jeans, and then he darted upstairs with lightning speed.

"Grayson? Are you alright?" Julian burst into Aiden's bedroom, gun out in front of him as he hurriedly scanned the room for an intruder. None were found. He put his gun away and looked at his restive boss who'd been pacing the floor before he barged in. "Oh. Sorry, I thought you were—"

"Fucking hell, can you at least knock before you come bum-rushing into my room without warning?" Aiden snapped. "You nearly gave me a fucking heart attack."

Unphased by the outburst, Julian kept his composure. "Are you alright, though? What's going on in here? I heard yelling..."

"I'm fine, sort of," Aiden whispered, his tone softening. "I was just... having a moment."

Not wanting to move into Aiden's space just yet, Julian remained stationary at the door. "Can I ask what it is that's gotten you so upset? Have you been contacted by the anonymous woman again?"

When Aiden didn't reply right away, Julian glanced down at the mess on the floor and noticed a half-crumpled letter. Thomas had briefly mentioned to him about a letter that Aiden's blackmailer had written to him. It didn't take Julian long to put two and two together.

"She's written another letter, hasn't she?" Julian asked for confirmation.

"Yes. She has."

Aiden went to sit at the edge of his bed, looking sullen and tired all over again. He leaned forward and placed his elbows on his knees to hold his head in his hands, desperately trying to fight the urge to go down the hall to his bar.

"Whoever the hell she is, she's good at covering her tracks, good at staying hidden. I've been waiting for the bitch to slip up and make a mistake so that I could finally catch her but she's just too fucking good. I may never figure out who she is," Aiden finally admitted his biggest fear out loud. "I might actually have to pay her off just to get her to leave me the fuck alone."

Julian was unsure of how he should respond.

He didn't like it, but he couldn't help but pity Aiden even though he had gotten himself into this mess by having made poor choices and wounding the wrong woman. Still, for Julian, it had been hard to see Aiden sitting there looking so miserable and defeated by someone that he couldn't even put a name or a face to.

"I actually think that I may have an idea about how we can catch your blackmailer," Julian blurted out as soon as the idea popped into his head. He then cautiously walked over to his despondent boss so that he didn't have to yell across the room. 

After being around Aiden for only a couple of hours, Julian had managed to see three completely different sides of the young CEO: there'd been Angry Aiden, Drunk Aiden, and now, Sad Aiden. Sad Aiden made Julian feel things that he hadn't thought he'd ever feel towards someone like Aiden. There was no denying that Aiden Grayson had been the most interesting and simultaneously infuriating person Julian has ever worked for thus far.

"I'm not promising you that it'll work, so don't get too excited," Julian warned him. "But I definitely think that what I have in mind is at least worthy enough to try out."

Aiden lifted his head to meet Julian's gaze; little tiny flickers of hope glimmered in his dazzling green eyes and it nearly took Julian's breath away.

"Would you like to hear my idea or not?" Julian asked.

"Y-Yes! Of course!" Aiden stood from the bed with a quickness, eager to hear what Julian had to say. "What do you have in mind?"

"Well, I happen to know a guy that works in forensics. He owes me a favor, so I was thinking I could call him up and see if he can work some magic, maybe pull some fingerprints off of the letter. If he can, it might bring us one step closer to finding out your anonymous woman's identity," Julian said. "The letter is handwritten, right?"

"Yes, it's handwritten," Aiden confirmed. "That's good, right?"

"It's perfect." Julian wanted to scream for his pulse to slow down after seeing Aiden's face light up with excitement. "Since it's handwritten, it means that she had to have touched all over the paper unless she's a pro at this whole blackmailing thing and wore gloves while writing the letter. If that's not the case, I'm almost positive that she had to have left a few fingerprints behind, at least one or two."

Why hasn't Kyle thought of this? Damn, maybe I'm working him too hard. "Wow. I'm so grateful, honestly. I know thank you isn't enough, but... thank you, Julian. Thank you for doing this for me even though you're not obligated to. Even if things don't turn out how I want them to, I'm still appreciative for what you're doing."

"It's no problem, Grayson. I'm happy to help," Julian replied with a smile. "I'll make the call to my friend as soon as I bring in the rest of my stuff from the car. We can head out after that. How's that sound?"

"Yeah, sure. That's fine," Aiden replied. "Take your time."

Julian turned to leave the room, and if he hadn't known any better, he'd like to think that his kindness was starting to rub off on Aiden.

In secret, Aiden wondered the exact same thing.

. . . . .

This is only an excerpt. The full book can be read on Ream Stories for free. Link in bio.

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